Kinney Drugs

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Kinney Drugs
Industry Retail
Founded1903;122 years ago (1903) in Gouverneur, New York, U.S.
FounderBurt Orrin Kinney [1]
Headquarters
Gouverneur, New York
Area served
New York and Vermont, USA
Key people
John Marraffa Jr. (President)
Products Pharmacy
Parent KPH Healthcare Services
Website kinneydrugs.com

Kinney Drugs is an American chain of drugstores throughout upstate New York and Vermont. [2] The chain specializes in providing services to small communities. [3]

Contents

History

The company was founded in 1903 by Burt Orrin Kinney, a native of Gouverneur, New York. The first drugstore was opened in Gouverneur and is currently in operation. [4] In 1962, a distribution center was opened.

In 2002 the company created the Kinney Drugs Foundation which makes awards to local and national charities. [5]

In 2008, Kinney Drugs became owned by its employees. [6] The company held a stock buyback for the 60 percent of the 2.84 million shares of company stock which were held by people who did not work for the company. [6] The reorganization had the company paying $90 per share to buy back stock at an estimated cost of $140 million. [6]

In 2025, Kinney Drugs introduced Ask Burt, an AI-powered virtual assistant that helps individuals determine which vaccines they may be eligible for. Ask Burt is named after the company’s founder. Ask Burt carries updated guidance for vaccine eligibility for a range of vaccinations, including COVID, influenza (Flu), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), pneumonia, and shingles. [7]

Locations

Kinney Drugs operates primarily throughout the metropolitan areas of Syracuse, Watertown, and Plattsburgh. About 20% of the company's stores are in Vermont and they opened their first drugstore in Saint Albans in the mid-1900s. [2] Many locations have freestanding stores with drive-thru pharmacies. The pharmacy also offers free delivery. [8]

References

  1. ↑ "Burt Orrin Kinney". Gouverneur Museum. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Kinney Drugs Pharmacy Finder". Kinney Drugs. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ Reaves, Michelle (August 17, 2004). "Pharmacy shake-up opens options in T-Burg". The Ithaca Journal. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Kinney Drugs Online". Kinney Drugs. Archived from the original on June 21, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Home". Kinney Drugs Foundation. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Kinney Drugs seeks to become entirely owned by its employees". Press-Republican. April 3, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Ask Burt - Vaccine Eligibility". Kinney Drugs. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ Ellis, Suzanne (October 15, 2008). "Kinney Drugs Leaves Parish". Post Standard. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
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